Aqueous Polymerization of Methyl Methacrylate Initiated by the Bromate-Thiourea Redox System

Abstract

Abstract The aqueous polymerization of methyl methacrylate initiated by the bromate-thiourea redox system in dilute HC1 has been investigated under nitrogen atmosphere. The rate of polymerization increases with increasing concentration of thiourea in the range 5 × 10−3−10 × 10−3 M. The percentage of conversion increases with increasing concentration of the catalyst, but beyond 1.5 × 10−2 M, there is a decreasing trend in the rate of polymerization. The rate of polymerization increases with increasing monomer concentration, but beyond 0.184 M the polymerization rate decreases due to gel effect. The rate of polymerization increases with temperature up to 35°C and beyond 40°C a decreasing trend is noticed. The effect of water miscible organic solvents, certain neutral salts on the rate of polymerization has also been investigated.